Dual-function switching device



0a. 24, 1961 J. F. R. DIAS 3,005,919

DUAL-FUNCTION SWITCHING DEVICE Filed Aug. 12, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,005,919 DUAL-FUNCTION SWITCHING DEVICE Julio Fleming Rodrigues Dias, 50 W. 12th St.,

New York 11, NY. 7 Filed Aug. 12, 1960, Ser. No. 49,287 8 Claims. (Cl. 307141.4)

My invention relates to an automatic timing device, and more specifically relates to a simple auxiliary mechanism that can be added to presently existing single function timing devices whereby a plurality of circuits may be controlled from the same existing timing structure.

Clock driven switching devices are well known in the art wherein a switch is operated from a timing mechanism to open a circuit at a predetermined time, and to thereafter close the circuit at a second predetermined time, each of these timing intervals being adjustable in length.

By way of example, such timing mechanisms are incorporated into clock radios whereby the radio may be manually adjusted to operate on a circuit controlled by the switching device for a certain adjustable length of time prior to going to sleep. When the time interval runs, the timing mechanism deenergizes the circuit. The circuit is then subsequently energized at some pre-set time in the morning for waking the sleeper.

Such devices are single function devices, since only a single circuit is controlled. Thus, a single radio is set at a certain volume at night and only this same radio at the same volume (which probably is set low at night) is reenergized in the morning.

In the present invention, a plurality of auxiliary circuits are provided which can be controlled by the above type of timing mechanism. If desired, and if only a single clock radio type appliance is available, the auxiliary circuits may cause the automatic operation of control elements in the gain control circuit of the radio so that the radio volume is altered when the circuit is re-energized.

Accordingly, a primary objectof this invention is to provide a novel dual-function timing mechanism.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel auxiliary mechanism which is applicable to presently existing clock timing mechanisms for providing auxiliary controllable circuits.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel clock-driven switching mechanism for controlling a plurality of electrical circuits for pre-selected, timed operation of the circuits.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel switching mechanism driven by a timing device that will permit a first electrical circuit to be energized for a first predetermined period'of time and to thereafter cause a second circuit to become energized after a second predetermined period of time.

A further object of this invention is to controla first sleep-inducing means'so that it is automatically de-energized after a firstpredetermined period of time, and to thereafter energize a waking means which can be either original sleep-inducing means which is controlled for a different sound level or some other waking means from a common clock-operated mechanism.

These and other objects of my invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 shows a plan view of a presently available clock mechanism for controlling a circuit.

FIGURE 2 shows a schematic diagram of the manner in which presently available clock mechanisms of the type shown in FIGURE 1 may be modified in accordance with the present invention to impart a dual function to the conventional timer.

FIGURE 3 is a circuit diagram of the auxiliary circuit of theinvention.

3,005,919 Patented Oct. 24, 1961 FIGURE 4 shows a second embodiment of the circuit of FIGURE 3 which permits a re-energization of the original appliance as well as energization of an appliance in a new circuit. 7

FIGURE 5 shows a further embodiment of the novel circuit of the invention which permits a variation in the performance of the original appliance as where the gain of a radio is controlled for a new gain level for morning operation.

FIGURE 6 shows a side view of a preferred structural arrangement of the invention.

Referring first to FIGURE 1, I have shown an existing clock and timing device. More specifically, a housing 1 carries a clock mechanism having a dial surface 2. The mechanism is electrically driven from a source of power connected to terminals 3 and 4.

The clock mechanism is operable to control a switch 5 which is connected in such a manner as to permit power transfer from input terminals 3 and 4 to output terminals A and B. Switch 5 is controlled by the clock mechanism in a standard manner such as that set forth in U.S. Patent 2,721,441, issued October 25, 1955 to Boyles, and is under the control of three adjustable knobs 6, 7 and 8. Knob 6 is operable between an Off, Automatic, and On positionjwhereby knob '6 over-rides all other controls except control 7 when in the On position by directly operating switch 5.

Control means 7 is operable as a sleep switc for automatic operation of switch 5 whereby knob 7 controls the length of time that switch 5 will remain closed when control 6 is set for automatic operation. Thus, where terminals A and B are connected to a radio, the sleep switch 7 may be set, for example, to sixty minutes, which means that the radio will remain energized through switch 5 for sixty minutes, and thereafter the switch 5 is automatically opened to deenergize terminals A and B.

A further control means, shown as time-set control 8, operates to subsequently reclose switch 5 at some predetermined time such as a morning hour at which terminals A and B are to be re-energized by the automatic closing of switch 5.

In accordance with the present invention, and as is shown in FIGURE 2, the well-known clock and timer device 1 has its terminals A and B connected to my novel dual-function switching means 10 so that the output of my novel dual-function switching means 10 provides a first and second pair of terminals 12-13 and 14-15 for a first and second electrical circuit which may be controlled by the clock and the timer.

It will be noted that the auxiliary mechanism 10 is directly connectable to the presently existing type of timer mechanism such as timer mechanism 1.

The novel auxiliary means 10 is shown in a first embodiment in FIGURE 3 which shows terminals 12-13 and 14-15 as being the terminals of two conventional outlets. The novel auxiliary means 10 is comprised of a relay coil 16 which controls the position of a movable contact 17 between stationary contacts 18 and 19, movable contact 17 being normally engaged with contact 18 when coil 16 is de-energized.

A push-button switch 20 is then provided to initiate operation of the novel dual-function, multi-purpose unit.

The operation of the circuit of FIGURE 3 is as follows, assuming that the system is to energize an appliance connected at terminals 12 and 13, as, for example, immediately prior to bed time. Push button switch 20 is closed to thereby establish a circuit from terminal A through push button switch 20, coil 16, and terminal B. This causes movable contact 17 to engage stationary contact 19 so that a first circuit including terminal A, contact 17, contact 19, coil 16 and terminal B is established to lock in the relay so that push button 20 may be released.

Terminals 12 and 13 are then energized with input terminal A being connected to terminal 13 through contact 17 and 19, while terminal B is directly connected to terminal 12. It will be noted that the outlet including terminals 13 and 14 is de-energized, since terminal A is isolated from terminal 15 by the contact disengagement of contacts 17 and 18. Accordingly, and in this initially operable condition, solong as contact of FIGURES 1 and 2 remains closed,- the terminals 12 and 13 will remain energized from input terminals A and B.

Wh en the pre-set time under the control of control 7 of FIGURE 1 is reached, switch 5 is opened so that terminals 12 and 13 will be de-energized. Further, relay coil 16 will be de-energized so that movable contact 17 will move upwardly to engage contact 18, and the appliance such as a radio at terminals 12 and 13 is shut off even though switch 5 recloses.

In order, for example, to wake up the sleeper in the morning, the prior types of clock and timer mechanisms would merely cause a re-energization of the original terminals such as terminals A and B of FIGURE 1, whereby the volume may possibly be set at too low a volume to be effective.

In accordance with the present invention, however, the reclosing of contact 5 and re-energization of terminals A and B at a time set by the time-set knob 8 will cause energization of the circuit including terminals 14 and in FIGURE 3 whereby a different appliance such as a second radio set at a higher volume or a television set or similar device can be energized.

More specifically, in FIGURE 3, since the relay mechanism is now set whereby contact 17 engages contact 18, terminals 14 and 15 are seen to be directly connected to terminals B and A respectively. Thus, this second appliance is automatically turned on when switch 5 recloses.

From the above operation, it is seen that my novel auxiliary means 10, which is actuated by merely depressing button after adjusting controls 6, 7 and 8, renders the clock and timer mechanism 1 a dual-function, inulti-purpose unit.

If it is desired to re-energize the initial appliance at terminals 12 and 13 so that terminals 14 and 15 of FIG- URE 3 may be used for a different function, such as turning on a percolator or other appliance, the circuit of FIGURE 3 may be modified, as shown in FIGURE 4.

Thus, in FIGURE 4 the terminal 13 is directly connected to terminal A as shown, while the connection from the lower contact of push-button 20 is disconnected from terminal 13. In this case, and so long as contacts 17 and 18 are in their normal position, both outlets including terminals 12 and 13 and terminals 14 and 15 will be energized from terminals A and B.

Accordingly, when the timing is set and push-button switch 20 is depressed, contacts 17 and 19 engage so that only terminals 12 and 13 are energized, while tenninals 14 and 15 are de-energized. After a predetermined period of time, the switch 5 of FIGURES 1 and 2 is opened so that terminals 12 and 13 are de-energized, as is relay coil 16, whereby contacts 17 and 18 re-engage.

Accordingly, when switch 5 is later reclosed by the time-set control 8 of FIGURE 1, both sets of terminals 12 and 13, and 14 and 15 are energized. Hence, terminals 12 and 13 re-energize the original appliance connected thereto such .as a radio, while terminals 14 and 15 can cause the energization of a new appliance such as a percolator.

' As previously stated, it may be desirable that only a single applicance be controlled where the control is according to a first mode for its first automatic operation, and a second mode for a second automatic operation. That is to say, during the interval controlled by the sleep switch 7 of FIGURE 1, a low volume may be desirable, whereas during the initiation of the interval controlled by time-set control 8 a louder volume may be desirable.

In accordance with the present invention, the auxiliary means 10 may be modified whereby the gain control circuit within the appliance such as a radio connected to terminals 12 and 13 may be automatically controlled. This embodiment of the invention is set forth in FIG- URE 5.

Referring to FIGURE 5, those components similar to those of FIGURES 3 and 4 have been given similar identifying numerals. It will be seen that FIGURE 5 differs from FIGURE 4 in that the circuit for controlling terminals 14' and 15 have been removed; and'a new auxiliary circuit including terminals 21 and 22 has been added.- The circuit including terminals 21 and 22 is controlled by an extending portion 23 of contact 17 where terminals 21 and 22 can connect different biasing voltages into the gain control circuit of a radio connected at terminals 12 and 13.

Accordingly, when the device is initially set prior to bed time by depressing button 20, the relay coil 16 is energized to cause contacts 17 and 19 to engage, and to also cause contact portion 23 to engage lower contact portion 24. This later connection will cause the gain control circuit within the radio appliance connected to terminals 12 and 13 to operate at a certain volume.

When switch 5 is opened after the predetermined initial period, the circut of FIGURE 5 is de-energized so that movable contact 17 returns to the position shown where contact portion 23 engages upper contact portion 25. In the morning, and with the re-energization of terminals A and B due to the closure of switch 5, terminals 12 and 13 aredirectly energized with the gain control circuit of the radio now being controlled from a circuit which includes terminal 22, which may cause a substantial increase in the radio volume to wake the sleeper.

The physical arrangement of the novel auxiliary control means 10 of FIGURE 2 may take many forms. A preferred form is shown in FIGURE 6. In FIGURE 6 the clock control mechanism 1 is shown as having a sloping front surface 30 which carries the dial 2 and control lcnobs =6, 7 and 8. The push-button 20 is mounted on the side of the casing 1 in the manner shown. The housing 1 may be so modified internally that the relatively small volume of the auxiliary means 10 which merely includes a simple relay and push-button can be incorporated within-the housing, as illustrated in dotted lines 10. A sloping rear surface 31 of housing 1 may then be adapted, if desired, to receive directly thereon an appliance such as a transistorized radio of relatively small voltune-whereby circuit connections for driving the radio are directly connectable to structure 10 through appropriate openings in sloping surface 31.

With this novel system it will be apparent that the radio 32 is caused to be a clock-type radio when connected in an appropriate manner to housing 1, and can further be disconnectable with respect to the housing so as to serve as a normal pocket radio. If desired, appropriate disconnect means or plug-in means may be provided between the ca sing 1 and radio 32 for this purpose.

Although I have described preferred embodiments of my novel invention, many variations and modifications will now be obvious to those skilled in the art, and I prefer therefore to be limited not by the specific disclosure herein but only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination; a first circuit having a switch means therein operable to energize and de-energize a pair of first circuit output terminals from a pair of first circuit input terminals, a timer mechanism operatively connected to said switch means for closing, opening, and reclosing said switch in a predetermined sequence, and an auxiliary circuit control means; said auxiliary circuit control means including a relay means and a second and third circuit means; said second and third circuit means having respective second and third output terminals and respective second and third input terminals; said relay means includingfirst contact means for connecting said second circuit input terminals to said first circuit output terminals when said switch means closes; said relay means including second contact means for connecting third circuit input terminals to said first circuit output terminals when said switch means opens; said second circuit output terminals being energized from said first circuit input terminals when said switch means closes; said third circuit output terminals-being energized from said first circuit input terminals when said switch means opens and thereafter recloses.

, 2. In combination; a first circuit having a switch means therein operable to energize and de-energize a pair of first circuit output terminals from a pair of first circuit input terminals; a timer mechanism operatively connected to said switch means for closing, opening, and reclosing said switch in a predetermined sequence, and an auxiliary circuit control means; said auxiliary circuit control means including a relay means and a second and third circuit means; said second and third circuit means having respective second and third output terminals and respective second and third input terminals; said relay means including first contact means for connecting said second circuit input terminals to said first circuit output terminals when said switch means closes; said relay means including second contact means for connecting third circuit input terminals to said first circuit output terminals when said switch means opens; said second circuit output terminals being energized from said first circuit input terminals when said switch means closes; said third circuit output terminals being energized from said first circuit input terminals when said switch means opens and thereafter recloses; said relay means including a momentary switch for initially operating said first contact means to connect said second circuit input terminals and said first circuit output terminals.

3. A relay system for providing first and second output circuits for a pair of sequentially energized and de energized input circuit terminals; said relay system comprising a relay coil and a first and second relay contact; said first relay contact being operable between connecting position and disconnecting position to connect and disconnect respectively said first output circuit to said input terminals; said second relay contact being operable between connecting and disconnecting position to connect and disconnect respectively said second output circuit to said input terminals; said first relay contact being moved to said connecting position responsive to energization of said relay coil; said second relay contact being moved to said connecting position responsive to de-energization of said relay coil; a momentary contact connected for energizing said relay coil from said input terminals when said input terminals are energized, and a seal-in circuit including said first relay contact for retaining said relay coil energized when said momentary contact is opened after a momentary closing; said first circuit being energized from said input terminals after closure of said momentary contact and as long as said input terminals are energized; said second circuit being connected from said input terminals when said relay coil is de-energized.

4. A relay system for providing first and second output circuits for a pair of sequentially energized and de-energized input circuit terminals; said relay system comprising a relay coil and a first and second relay contact; said first relay contact being operable between connecting position and disconnecting position to connect and disconnect respectively said first output circuit to said input terminals; said second relay contact being operable between connecting and disconnecting position to connect and disconnect respectively said second output circuit to said input terminals; said first relay contact being moved to said connecting position responsive to energization of said relay coil; said second relay contact being moved to said connecting position responsive to de-energization of said relay coil; a momentary contact connected for energizing said relay coil from said input terminals when said input terminals are energized, and a seal-in circuit including said input terminals after closure of said momentary contact and as long as said input terminals are energized; said second circuit being connected from said input terminals when said relay coil is de-energized by de-energization of said input terminals and being energized from said input terminals when said input terminals are re-ener-gized.

5. A relay system for providing first and second output circuits for a pair of sequentially energized and de energized input circuit terminals; said relay system com prising a relay coil and a first and second relay contact; said first relay contact being operable between connecting position and disconnecting position to connect and disconnect respectively said first output circuit t said input terminals; said second relay contact being operable between connecting and disconnecting position to connect and disconnect respectively said second output circuit to said input terminals; said first relay contact being moved to said connecting position responsive to energization of said relay coil; said second relay contact being moved to said connecting position responsive to de-energization of said relay coil; a momentary contact connected for energizing said relay coil from said input terminals when said input terminals are energized, and a seal-in circuit including said first relay contact for retaining said relay coil energized when said momentary contact is opened after a momentary closing; said first circuit being energized from said input terminals after closure of said momentary contact and as long as said input terminals are energized; said second circuit being connected from said input terminals when said relay coil is de-energized; said input terminals comprising the output controlled terminals of a clock radio.

6. A relay system for providing first and second output circuits for a pair of sequentially energized and deenergized input circuit terminals; said relay system comprising a relay coil and a first and second relay contact; said first relay contact being operable between connecting position and disconnecting position to connect anddisconnect respectively said first output circuit to said input terminals; said second relay contact being operable between connecting and disconnecting position to connect and disconnect respectively said second output cirrcuit to said input terminals; said first relay contact being moved to said connecting position responsive to energization of said relay coil; said second relay contact being moved to said connecting position responsive to de-energization of said relay coil; a momentary contact connected -for energizing said relay coil from said input terminals when said input terminals are energized, and a seal-in circuit including said first relay contact for retaining said relay coil energized when said momentary contact is opened after a momentary closing; said first circuit being energized from said input terminals after closure of said momentary contact and as long as said input terminals are energized; said second circuit being connected from said input terminals when said relay coil is de-energized; said input terminals being energized and de-energized responsive to the operation of a clock driven mechamsm.

7. A relay system for providing first and second output circuits for a pair of sequentially energized and de-energized input circuit terminals; said relay system comprising a relay coil and a first and second relay contact; said first relay contact being operable between connecting position and disconnecting position to connect and disconnect respectively said first out-put circuit to said input terminals; said second relay contact being operable between connecting and disconnecting position to connect and disconnect respectively said second output circuit to said input terminals; said first relay contact being moved to said connecting position responsive to energization of said relay coil; said second relay contact being moved to said connecting position responsive to de-energiz-ation of said relay coil; amomentary contact connected for energizing said relay coil from said input terminals when said input terminals are energized, and a seal-in circuit including said first relay contact for retaining said relay coil energized when said momentary contact is opened after a momentary closing; said first circuit being energized from said input terminals after closure of said momentary contact and as long as said input terminals are energized; said second circuit being connected from said input terminals when said relay coil is de-energizecl; said input terminals comprising the output controlled terminals of a clock radio; said first circuit being connected to said clock radio; said second circuit being connected to a second appliance.

8. A relay system for providing first and second output circuits or a pair of sequentially energized and deenergized input circuit terminals; said relay system comprising a relay coil and a first and second relay contact; said first relay contact being operable between connecting position and disconnecting position to connect and disconnect respectively said first output circuit to said input terminals; said second relay contact being operable between connecting and disconnecting position to connect and disconnect respectively said second output circuit to said input terminals; said first relay contact being moved to said connecting position responsive to energization of said relay coil; said second relay contact being moved to said connecting position responsive to de-energization of said relay coil; a momentary contact connected for energizing said relay coil from said input terminals when said input terminals are energized, and a seal-in circuit including said first relay contact for retaining said relay coil energized when said momentary contact is opened after a momentary closing; said first circuit being energized from said input terminals after closure of said momentary contact and as long as said input terminals are energized; said second circuit being connected from said input terminals when said relay coil is de-energized; said input terminals comprising the output controlled terminals of a clock radio; said second circuit being connected to the gain control circuit of said radio.

No references cited. 

